Jc Haring wrote:
The ladies have been good this year and I want them strong for the
winter.  Will happily give them all they want/need.  Someone stated a few
weeks ago that they'll stop taking it when they've had enough, but there
must be a limit.  How much is too much???

>

 Bees need clustering space for wintering. That space is not just between
the combs, but also "in" the cells of the combs. If you fill every nook
and cranny of the hive with syrup, that clustering space is gone. The
syrup acts like a heat sink, and makes it harder for the bees to heat
their cluster.
    So, how much is enough...or too much?

    How much feed do colonies on Long Island need for winter? Is 60 lbs
enough? Or maybe 70? In northern Vermont, bees need 70 or 80 lbs to
survive the winter, and early spring.
    Try weighing your colonies. I use a package scale. Tip the hive
sideways. Place the scale under the raised side of the hive. Tip the hive
up onto the scale. Read the weight. Feed a gallon of thick syrup for each
10 pounds they are below your target weight.
    I have found that a two story colony of bees, populous but with no
honey, weighs 70 lbs. Say your colony weighs 120 lbs. If your target
weight is 130 (60 lbs of stores) then you need to feed 1 or 2 gallons of
feed. Etc....If the hive is more than two stories, adjust your target
weight accordingly....10 pounds or so per extra box.

                                                            Mike